A/N ~ What the what? It's not Monday, is it? Of course not. But I was fortunate enough that Shug found time to do what she does for me, and msj bubble-approved, so here it is. :)

In case you need a refresher, when we last saw our young lovers, they were entwined in the most intimate way until a third party joined it. Naughty, naughty DE! LOL I'll shut up now and let you get on with it. Thanks for reading. XX ~ SR

True Love Way

Chapter 34

It seemed to take forever to settle Don Everly down. I now had some idea of what Jasper had complained about during the days when Emily was a night owl. I wondered if she still was. I made a mental reminder to ask him about it the next time we spoke. If this was what it was like with kids, I wondered how anyone ever had more than one. When the hell would sex take place if there were constant interruptions? I also wondered if a little trip to the vet for a slight alteration would take the horniness out of our dog, or if he would persist with being perverted. I even had the most inane conversation with him out there, in which I asked if he ever wanted to have children. I imagined he'd make some really adorable puppies. But was that enough? All puppies are cute. But so many are abandoned and unwanted. Children are the same. Sure, there are fewer human children left to die in dumpsters than canines, but there are other ways to die. And some kids don't even give the relief of actual death – they live on even when they're dead on the inside.

"I bet your mom loved you, Don Everly." I spoke quietly when he finally settled into his crate. "I bet she didn't mean to leave you. Mine didn't. It was an accident. She had all the best intentions – she just wasn't ready to make a baby. She had plans for me, you know. She arranged for me to be loved and taken care of, even before I was born. I think your mom wanted that for you, as well. I hope she knows you're with us and sees how much we love you. I hope mine does, too."

It was ridiculous talking to a dog about this, but it was the first time I'd ever talked about my birth mother without feeling the angry stab of guilt followed by depression. I wasn't even misty-eyed. Perhaps it was finally time for me to let her go. I'd never forget about her entirely, but I felt I was in a place where the situation of my birth wouldn't dictate the remainder of my life. I had a feeling that until I accepted it and let go, Esme would not be able to either, and she didn't deserve the lifetime of torture over something we had no control of.

Don kept one eye open while I talked to him. I was stroking his head the way he liked while I spoke. It was some time before I realized he wasn't actually with me. I'd never seen him snore while he was awake. Chuckling, I gently closed his eye. He let out a deep sigh, banged his tail against the crate three times, and resumed snoring.

I'd fully expected Bella to be sound asleep when I returned to bed. Much to my delight, she was not sleepy at all and nowhere near done with our activities. Rather than picking up where we left it, she took the top spot, riding me like a champion after stripping my boxers off and slapping my ass. I came so hard I thought I may have burst a few blood vessels. It wasn't at all how I'd expected sex to be with Bella – no, it was better. Having the experience of pure, passionate sex combined with all the emotions of a loving relationship was superior to my other involvements in every way. This was love. True love.

Bella snuggled against my side as I lay in a state beyond euphoria. I had a vague notion that I should probably take a hit from my inhaler, just in case, but I couldn't be bothered with moving. My lungs felt fine. My lungs felt perfect. Everything felt perfect. Perfectly content. Relaxed. Ready for sleep.

"Edward?"

I grunted in response. I'd forgotten this part of sex. Did all women want to talk afterwards? It took all my energy to grunt, and Bella had done most of the work this time. Wasn't she tired?

"Edwarrrrd," she purred softly. "I know you're awake."

I hummed in agreement, running my fingers lazily up and down her bare back. "As are you."

"Edward…"

Why? Why did she insist on keeping us awake?

"Edward, marry me."

I chuckled in a dreamlike state. "Like I keep saying, Bella. Put a r–"

Her finger pressed against my lips briefly before she bolted out of bed. Through half-closed eyes, I admired the blurry vision of her bent over digging through her bag in the closet. She had the world's most fantastic ass. I had to remember to put my contacts in before we did this again. I wanted full vision.

"I should go for laser surgery."

"What?" Bella turned around, confused.

"For my eyes. I should do the laser surgery."

"I like you in glasses," she assured me with a sweet smile.

"But I like looking at you. I'd like to have a perfect view of you at all times."

"Sweet. You're so sweet." She closed the closet door and walked towards the bed. "I'm behind you on anything you want to do."

"I know that," I replied sleepily, and heavily in love.

"Do you know why?"

"Because I love you," I stated, closing my eyes once more. "More than anyone in this world ever could."

"And because I love you the very same way," she whispered near my head. "Edward, marry me."

Opening my eyes, I could see all I needed to. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glowing. Her smile lit up the room. Her hair was a disaster. One sweaty side pasted to her cheek and the other matted up like a bird's nest. She'd never looked more beautiful to me, and I told her so.

"I don't think you're taking me seriously," she commented. "Would this persuade you?" She held up a small black box.

My heart began beating rapidly, rendering me more alert than an icy shower would. I rolled onto my side and braced myself up on my elbow. "Is that what I think it is?"

She popped it open, displaying exactly what I thought it was. "I hope you're not upset with me. I had this idea. I thought it was a really great idea – perfect for you. But the execution of it didn't quite go as planned."

"You had my malachite stone!"

"I thought I'd be able to sneak it away and put it back before you noticed it was gone. I wanted the jeweller to take just a small portion of it, then round it out again, and you'd never even notice."

"I'd notice. That stone was practically attached to my palm for years."

"You're upset."

"I'm… relieved." I let out a laugh, promising to remember to tell her about my ordeal earlier, thinking Don had swallowed it. I also couldn't wait to tell Emmett he'd dug through shit for nothing.

"Is this silly? Tell me honestly. If you don't want this –"

"Bella –"

"– just tell me truthfully. I thought if you wore a piece of the stone this way, you'd always know that I've loved you from the beginning. You'd get the same solace from this, maybe more. Is it silly?"

"It's the most romantic thing I've ever heard of, and I'm completely jealous that I didn't have the creativity to come up with something like this myself."

She smiled, blushing further. "So…?"

"Are you seriously asking me to marry you?"

"I'm seriously asking you to marry me."

"You realize you're naked?"

She giggled in embarrassment but instantly grew bold. She stood before me, completely nude, sex hair a piece of art on its own, and took my hand. "Edward, will you please do me the honour of spending your life with me? Will you wear this and know that I'm committed to you? Devoted to you. Know that I love you for eternity? Will you please be my husband and love me every day we're together, just as you have from the day we met?"

"Hell yes." I sat up quickly. That wasn't enough. I kneeled on the bed, just as naked as she was, and pulled her against me. "Yes, Bella, I'll marry you. I'll be everything you want and need. I can't believe you did this."

"Put it on?"

I held my hand out for her. "I'm shaking," I said with a nervous laugh. "I'm fucking shaking." It didn't prevent her from sliding the ring on my finger. "I'm such a chick."

Smirking, Bella took her eyes off my hand. "For a chick, you've got an outstanding dick."

"Not at the moment. It fell asleep long ago. I'll have to break the news to it tomorrow. I'm afraid it missed the part where I committed it to you – along with myself – for eternity."

"It'd better already know that." She was teasing me. Bella, the girl I'd known and loved since my teen years, was here with me naked. Proposing marriage to me, naked. Holding my trembling hand, naked. Teasing me, loving me, promising herself to me forever. "Sweetie… are you crying?"

"Am I?" Looking at her, I realized she was more of a blur than usual. "Fuck. I am."

"Why?" she asked softly. "Can you tell me why?"

"Because… this is a dream come true? I dunno. I'm also a little pissed off at myself for procrastinating. I'd planned to get a ring for you next week. I was going to propose. You beat me to it."

Gently, she brushed away the wetness on my cheeks.

"You've always been the brave one of this pair," I acknowledged.

"And you, the romantic."

"You think I'm romantic?" That made me grin. I'd always felt anything but. "I was going to brave jewellery shopping with Rosalie."

"I had a whole romantic evening planned for us. I was determined to romance you for a change. I made us dinner. I was going to be waiting for you in the bath while it finished in the oven. I was going to bathe you, feed you… then pop our proverbial cherries. We're virgins to each other, so we can do that."

"Damn…" A small laugh snuck out. "I'm sorry we ruined your plan. Really sorry."

"That's why I was so grumpy earlier. It wasn't that you were out. You're allowed to go out. I want you to go out and live like you have been, only happier. And without other women."

"I thought Don swallowed my stone. I took him to meet up with Emmett. We dug through his crap to see if he'd voided it. He hadn't. So we took him to the vet and had him checked out. He's fine. As you know, he didn't swallow the stone." I hadn't meant for my story to come out that way, but it had. So much for 'later.'

Bella collapsed on the bed beside me, laughing. It could have been the story itself she found amusing, or the rapid change of topic. "You actually picked through his poop?"

"Well, Emmett did, yeah. I collected and then watched. I was scared shitless. Bad pun, I know."

"Oh, sweetie! You should have told me."

"And ruined things for you even more? No way. This worked out just fine, thank you."

I held her face as I kissed my beautiful girl. Then I pulled back to admire my new bling. She'd had small chips of the malachite stone embedded inside an etched Celtic knot.

"No beginning, no ending," she recited in explanation of the design. "The continuity of everlasting love and binding together of two souls. Esme told me you hail from Irish decent. Elizabeth had a necklace with this particular knot on it. When I searched the meaning associated with it, I thought it was written for us."

"It's perfect," I agreed with a raspy voice. Just when I'd decided to let go of grieving over my mother, Bella gave me something that tied her together with us for eternity. "My god, are you always so thoughtful with your gift-giving?"

She batted her lashes at me. "It's one of my talents."

"You're perfect."

"So you're really not upset about your stone being destroyed?"

"Destroyed?" It felt like I had a softball sized chunk of malachite in my stomach. "You said the jeweller just took a piece of it."

"That was the plan. It didn't work. It's in pieces. Edward! I'm sorry. I am so sorry. I know that was irreplaceable. Can you forgive me?"

Fuck. It was irreplaceable. I'd just had my best friend digging through shit to find it, and if he had, I would have cleaned it off and kept it. And probably kissed my friend.

My eyes darted down to the bits of my prized possession. "Nothing to forgive. I never have to worry about not having my stone with me. This ring is never coming off my finger."

~ 0 ~

We took the opportunity to share our news at a family dinner in Forks the following week. The family was ecstatic about our engagement, and more than a little amused that I was wearing the engagement ring – no one more so than Charlie. I'd been in a panic over how he would react – not just to the engagement, but the fact that I hadn't stepped up and asked him for his daughter's hand in marriage and had a ring to give to her. I hadn't prepared enough. The familiar entertained look on his face helped me to relax. Then he threw out the punch line when he asked if I'd take Bella's name as my own.

Blushing, I'm sure, I laughed at his jeering and shrugged. That's when the world's most awkward hug took place. It wasn't a man hug. It was a full-on embrace, with the strength of an adult bear behind it.

"You've been the guy for my little girl all along. I'm proud to have you as a son-in-law." His voice cracked with emotion, and I wasn't sure if that was the only thing breaking up.

When he finally released me, I felt my side for cracked ribs. I was about to tease him back when I became aware of the tears in his eyes. Charlie – Chief Swan – was fucking crying in my arms. I could hear my mom's voice in my head telling me to relax, they were happy tears. When I glanced at her standing off to the side, tears pooling as well, her smile gave me the affirmation it was all good.

I joined Mom in the kitchen after dinner, helping her slice the pies for dessert.

"I'm so thrilled for you two," she announced, beaming. "I only wish Jasper and Alice were here for the news in person. Skype doesn't have the same effect for grand announcements."

Scratching at the back of my neck, I tittered. "Well, that's just it, Mom. Bella and I aren't really grand announcement-type people. We like things kind of quiet and personal."

She stroked my cheek lovingly. "It's more intimate that way."

I suddenly had a mental recall of Bella's naked proposal and felt myself flush again. We certainly hadn't shared details of the proposal, but yes, it was definitely intimate. "We haven't discussed the actual wedding, but it won't be like Rosalie's or Jasper's." I felt it safe to warn her that a big, formal wedding wasn't our thing. Of that, I was certain.

"Sweetheart, the venue doesn't matter one bit. It's the sincerity of the union. You'll do what's right for the two of you."

"You won't be upset…?"

She huffed and pinched the cheek she'd been stroking. "I'll pout, but I'll get over it. If anyone else has a problem with it, it's just that – their problem. Screw formality. Be yourselves."

I grinned at her affectionately. "Just say 'fuck it'?"

"Fuck them." She threw a wink at me as I feigned shock at her language. "It's your day. Do what you want to do. And Bella, of course. Please keep in mind that she is a woman, and sometimes you men don't know exactly what it is we women truly want."

"I don't know what kind of ring she'd want. That's why I haven't given her one yet," I confessed. "Rose is going to help."

"Why not Bella herself?"

I scoffed at the idea of taking my bride-to-be to purchase her ring. That's when it hit me – Bella had already shown me what she would like. "Mom, you're fucking brilliant!"

"I know that. But do watch your language," she teased as I hugged her. "Show your mother a little respect."

She knew that was something I'd always have for her. The fact that we could joke about it proved it. "Have I ever thanked you for being the greatest mom in the world?"

"Mm-hmm," she mumbled casually as she resumed pie service. "You gave me that lovely macaroni plaque stating just that, in what… fourth grade?"

"I spelled 'world' wrong," I replied with a sheepish grin. I remembered it well because it still hung in the hallway in all its glittery, gaudy glory.

"But you spelled 'mom' right, and that's what counts. Plus, your plaque was yours alone. The teacher had Jasper and Rosalie combine their efforts on their artwork. Silly woman. They are separate people for god's sake! I'm mother to each of them… to all three of you. Why do I only deserve two?"

"Mom, you deserve a million macaroni plaques. She was an idiot – proven by the fact that she didn't catch my mistake and let me fix it before it was gilded in sparkles for eternity."

I had the feeling that if I hadn't had this talk with my mother, I would have made the same grave error with Bella's engagement ring. I would have picked something huge and glittery, because I felt like she deserved something substantial, when really, Bella had very simple taste. After all, she was marrying me.

~ 0 ~

"This place is a little pricey, according to my boss' wife, but well worth it. They do excellent custom work." Rosalie took my arm as she swung the door open to the jeweller's a couple of weeks later. As each day passed, I'd felt like more of an ass for not dealing with this sooner. I hated to destroy the ring Bella had given me in any way, but if I had to alter it to retrieve even one chip of the malachite stone, I would.

"I know it won't be the stone, Edward, but maybe they can get a piece of malachite similar." Rosalie knew me so well. I had told her of my plan to have Bella's ring crafted similar to mine because I didn't know how to go about making that happen.

My sister understood the importance of this stone to both of us. With that knowledge, she turned on her most charming smile and boldly approached the counter. "Hello. We're not going to waste your time viewing the rings under glass. We have something very specific that we would like to commission."

The fellow's eyes lit up and his polite grin turned genuine. "Wonderful. I love a challenge. What is it you have in mind?"

"A mate," I declared, joining them at the counter. "Not a duplicate, but something which compliments the original. It has to be malachite."

"Malachite?" Len, as his name tag read, perked up further. "No kidding. I worked with a piece of malachite just weeks ago. It's not a common request."

Rosalie's eyes caught mine, and we grinned. "Do you recognize this?" I held my left hand up for him to examine. His amused chuckle verified our thoughts – he was the same craftsman Bella had hired. "It's to be an engagement ring, for the woman who had this ring made. Can you come up with something?"

"A companion piece to your own ring? Made from the same stone? How very romantic."

"Well, not just malachite… it is an engagement ring. I think it should have diamonds as well."

"And the Celtic knot design?"

He was enthusiastic about this job, but I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted. My hesitation caused him to hold up a finger before he dashed into the room off to the side. He returned with a small velvet bag.

"Let's see what we have from the original. I kept the shards because it was such an interesting stone."

My heart raced as he gently poured the contents onto the counter. I wasn't sure if I wanted to punch the man for destroying my stone or kiss him for keeping the remnants. All I knew was Bella's ring would be made with it, and that left me elated.

"We can do something like this…" He carefully removed a gem from under the counter with long tweezers, setting it down on a dark cloth. His hand worked the tweezers expertly as he arranged small chips of malachite around it.

My eyes were trained on the largest chunk left in the stone pile. "What if it were reversed. Could we use this piece and have smaller diamonds around it?"

Beside me, my sister made a disapproving noise. Len remained still, as though he were in agreement with her.

"What? Just come out with it."

Rosalie shrugged. "You know Bella best…"

"We could use a lesser quality diamond if you're concerned about –"

"Price isn't a factor," I assured him hastily. Rose's behaviour had made me doubt my vision of Bella's ring. "You think she'll like this?"

"Edward, I can't choose for her. You know what you want."

"What would you want?"

She smiled sweetly. "My Emmett."

"Okay, okay. Don't get mushy." I chuckled at her obvious adoration for the man she'd married years ago. "As for a ring, you don't like this? Be honest, Rose. I'm not a girl. I don't know these things."

"Bella's a woman, Edward. And this is her engagement ring. I like the diamond as the focal point."

"And you think Bella will?"

"I think anyone would be thrilled with that rock," she exclaimed with a smirk. Len nodded his agreement. "It's not just that though. It's the shape of that particular diamond. It almost looks tiered. Kind of like the stages of Bella's life, and how she's grown with everything she's been through. The centre is so crystal clear and pure-looking. It's Bella."

I took a really good look at the diamond for the first time. To me, a diamond was a diamond. I knew a lot of women would say the bigger the better, but Bella wasn't like that. This one wasn't huge, but I could now see what Rose saw in it. "It is Bella," I agreed softly.

"And you." She nestled up against me as her finger touched on one of the stone chips around it. "Look, you surround her. Keep her safe."

"Beautiful concept for an inscription, if I may intrude."

I'd almost forgotten Len was still there. "Inscription?"

"Yes, your young lady… Bella… struggled over the inscription she wanted on that one. I just thought I could offer some help in the event that you are alike in that manner."

"Oh, they are!" Rosalie let out a laugh.

My mind left them momentarily. Once again, my sister had seen something in this design that made it perfect. It was us. My love for her, unending and complete. It was perfect. Len's comments then took over. Bella had an inscription put into mine? I hadn't seen it. But it hadn't come off my finger since she'd placed it there. What did it say? She'd put thought into it, and I'd come with nothing.

"True love surrounds you for eternity," I blurted. Len and Rose ceased their conversation. "That's what I want it to say – the inscription."

"Perfect," Len acknowledged with an approving grin. We got down to business then, placing just the right chips of malachite all around the shimmering diamond. Len recommended it be set on a narrower band than mine, to make it more feminine. We would reserve the Celtic knot for her wedding band. He would make it encircle the entire band so there truly was no ending to it. My own band would be smooth. I didn't want anything fancy. Inside both bands would be the word, 'Mine.' No point in procrastinating, I commissioned all three rings from Len with his word that he would have them ready for me the following week. I didn't doubt his word – the fact that I'd put down double the amount of the deposit he requested pleased him, and he appeared genuinely excited about working on them.

"Good thing I've lived simply for the past decade," I quipped as I stuffed the receipt into my wallet back in the car. "That cut into my savings."

"Good thing your future wife is worth a fortune then, huh? Here, this was going to be your wedding present, but since Len refused to take payment for it, I'll just give it to you now."

My smile couldn't be contained. In my hands was the small bag that held the remaining pieces of my malachite stone. I'd been blessed not only with the greatest mom in the world – or word, as my macaroni had spelled out – but I also had the greatest sister.

Arriving at Rose's home, Mom greeted us in the driveway, happily bouncing Nathan on her hip. I stepped out of the car to spend a moment with her so she wouldn't keep me on Skype all night. I'd brushed her off when I'd picked up Rosalie to ring shop. I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before peering down at my nephew. He had both hands stuffed into his mouth.

"Kid's got a big yap. There's a whole lotta fingers in there. At least four from one hand, and one, two –"

"Wow, Edward. Did you not learn your lesson with Alice? Not cool to criticize a baby in front of its mom. My son does not have a big yap. If anyone here is guilty of that…" One eyebrow arched at me. It was a little less sculpted than normal. I noticed for the first time that she wasn't wearing any makeup at all. I was well used to heads turning in admiration when I was out with my sister, and today had been no exception. She didn't require makeup to enhance her natural good looks. She had something else – something I couldn't put my finger on until she interacted with Nathan. Her confidence was back. She was this boy's mom, and nothing would change that.

"You're beautiful, do you know that?" My blurt was full of sincerity, but it received an eye roll from the recipient of my comment and a chuckle from our mother.

"Does that usually work with her, sweetheart? I always call you on your BS – not that you're not beautiful – you truly are."

I smiled as Mom backtracked. "She is. Not as beautiful as her mother, of course." I ducked the swat she threw my way and wrapped my arms around my sister's waist. Standing behind her, we both stared down at Nathan. He plucked one hand away from his mouth long enough to attempt a smile. He was such a pleasant baby.

"You do know this little guy is going to grow up to be me. An overgrown mama's boy."

"With any luck." Rosalie smiled contentedly.

"That's all we'll have in common. He won't be as awkward as me. Or sickly. He might have some premature balding issues. Is he losing hair? Didn't he used to have more?"

"Edward! My god… you were doing so well, and then you start dissing his hairline?"

"I'm just saying."

"Who's got the big yap?"

I opened wide and pretended I was going for her head before ducking down to place a kiss on Nathan's somewhat balding head. He had more hair when he was born. I was certain of that. "Let's see that big yap of yours, Nathan. Open up." I demonstrated for him. He stuffed one saliva-covered fist in it, much to my shock and dismay.

"Aw! He's sharing!" Rosalie and Mom cracked up as I quickly retreated, wiping my mouth off on my shirt tail.

"Gotta go."

"Need some mouthwash?" Rose called after me.

"Funny." I opened my car door and got in.

"Baby wipe?"

"I've already got some, smarty pants."

Her eyes widened before she broke into another round of laughter. "I thought Emmett was joking about that! You honestly drive around with wipes in your car now? How very anal of you."

"Wow, you are so witty today. Wipes… anal… I get your joke. Witty, Rose. Truly." I put the car in reverse, preparing to back out. "Thanks for today."

Rose simply smiled at me. She had never required a 'thank you,' and that made it even more important to say it to her.

"Do you have to go so soon? I thought you could stick around for a little visit."

Despite my mother's hopeful look, I shook my head. "Sorry. Not today. I'm on nights. Gotta catch a nap before work. I'll drop by in the morning."

"Bring Bella!" she shouted as I backed up and pulled onto the street. I gave a wave and drove off.

I'd only driven a couple of blocks before my curiosity got the better of me. I pulled over and stared at my hands on the steering wheel. They gripped it tightly for no apparent reason. I wasn't even aware I was clenching them until I looked. Pre-wedding jitters already?

"Shut the fuck up, stupid brain. There are no jitters. I've never been surer about anything in my life. I want this. I'm marrying Bella. It's better than I ever dreamed."

I relaxed my grip. Wet my lips. Why was my mouth so dry?

"This is ridiculous. Just look at the inscription. Take the ring off and read it."

My hands didn't move on their own.

"It never has to come off again. Just slip it off, read it, put it back on."

Still no movement.

"Shit."

My head slammed against them on the steering wheel. I gave it a few more whacks before taking a deep breath and removing my hands as I sat erect. They trembled as I touched the ring. I tried to stop them by rhythmically turning the band on my finger. I wasn't working.

"Shit!" I huffed in frustration at my own neurosis. If I didn't stop shaking, something was more likely to happen to my ring while it was off, and it was coming off. I needed to see the inscription. I rolled up the window, just in case it decided to suck the ring right through it like a giant vacuum. Swiftly, before I lost courage, I slipped the ring from my finger.

My glasses slid down my nose as I tipped my head to see inside. It was too damned difficult to see the inside of a band. Why the hell did people put messages inside this way to begin with? Who was the first person who thought it would be a good idea to inscribe tiny letters inside a small circle? It had to have been a joke. The artist was trying to drive the recipient crazy. Or pull one over on them – like a 'kick me' sign.

That struck me as funny for some unknown reason. The laughter began and kept going until my hands no longer shook, but I was getting a look from a pedestrian passing by. I waved and leaned back in my seat, ready to take another look.

"What message did you have for me, Bella? Is it a kick me sign? Does it say I should put my glasses on? Well, they're on. And I see…"

I turned the ring slowly reading her message over and over. My face felt tight from the smile it wore, and I realized I was no longer reading, but merely reciting the words in my head. I couldn't see the tiny letters anymore. Everything was blurry.

"True love, from day one to the end of time."

The sentiment was so similar to the inscription I'd chosen it amazed me. Maybe I was more romantic than I thought. Or maybe Bella and I were just so alike we knew what the other wanted to say. Carefully, I slipped the ring back on and proceeded home. I made a quick call to let Bella know I was on my way. With any luck, I wouldn't be getting in much of a nap.